La Comida’s pollo al horno is a delight. (
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Hakkasan
What do you do before a long night of partying at MGM Grand’s Hakkasan nightlife complex, where Deadmau5, Steve Aoki, Calvin Harris and Dada Life hold court in the biggest room of Angel Management Group’s multi-level mega-club? If you’re fellow resident DJ Tiesto, you fuel up on your favorite crispy duck salad at the Hakkasan restaurant, the best version of the grand eatery in America and easily the most satisfying big-ticket Asian restaurant in Vegas. The creative and beautiful dim sum (including a scallop with mango shumai created for Vegas and vegetarian versions of classic dumplings) are Hong Kong-worthy. Order a smoky negroni, eat fragrant fried rice and save room for macarons before heading upstairs to dance till dawn. hakkasanlv.com
Kumi
Chef Akira Back, the Asian-fusion ace behind Bellagio’s Yellowtail, is merging Japanese food with his Korean roots in dishes like bibimbap sushi rolls at the Light Group’s Mandalay Bay stunner opening later in the month. Whether you’re in the mood for elegant raw-fish preparations or a hearty pot of sliced tobanyaki-style filet mignon with earthy mushrooms and truffle ponzu, this is your place. And you’re in Vegas, so why not start your meal with crispy rice topped with blackened tuna and Screaming O sauce? Get excited. kumilasvegas.com
La Comida
Downtown Vegas has gotten even more scenester-friendly with Michael and Jenna Morton’s La Comida, which feels and tastes a lot like New York’s La Esquina. This, we’ve been told, is the point. Everything from Mexico City-raised chef Pablo Sanchez-Ortiz’s queso fundido to the excellent rice and beans is made with care, and the soulful pollo al horno is comfort food for kings. But feel free to use this spot as your guacamole and margarita bar, too. You’ll fit right in with the happy crowd, pre- gaming for a fun Vegas night that has nothing to do with Strip shenanigans. facebook.com/LaComidaLV
Joe Vicari’s Andiamo Italian Steakhouse
Four words: Pat LaFrieda chopped steak. Yes, New York meat mavens will feel right at home during dinner at the D hotel in downtown Vegas. That chopped steak is smothered in onions, mushrooms and red wine sauce, and it is fantastic. The pappardelle with veal ragu is just as hearty, and why not get sides of meatballs and sausages for good measure? thed.com
Heraea
Part of the Palms’ makeover is a sports bar with food you actually want to eat. If burgers and baseball aren’t your speed, sit outside, order chef Doug Bell’s king crab and spinach dip, and gawk at the hard-bodied crowd in the pool. palms.com
Yonaka
This off-Strip sensation on Flamingo Road, not far from the Palms, is bringing in both passionate Yelpers and an informed tourist crowd for its modern Japanese dishes. Some creations skew over-the-top or seem random (covering delicate raw fish with candied quinoa, bell pepper, or sweet potato), but the happy-hour deals (generous $5 hand rolls, $3 beer and sake) from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. are solid. yonakajapaneserestaurant.com
Follow Andy Wang at twitter.com/andywangny.